Apple updates iMacs: Haswell, PCIe SSD, and 802.11ac

The 2012-era chassis gets some 2013-era internals.

Just a day after announcing its iPhone launch numbers, Apple is updating its iMac lineup. Last year's all new iMac was an impressive performer and quite the looker, and an update to Haswell was expected at some point this year. Pixel density enthusiasts may be disappointed to learn that there wasn't a move to a higher density display at either the 21.5-inch or 27-inch SKUs. Thankfully, pricing hasn't changed, so the base model retains its $1,299 sticker, while the 27-inch model starts at $1,799. That's not to say nothing's changed. So what's new?

Right off the bat is the addition of Intel's new Haswell processors, with the base 21.5-inch model most likely sporting the quad-core Core i5-4570R (2.7GHz base clock, turbo up to 3.2GHz with Iris Pro graphics), and the top of the line 27-inch SKU bringing what is likely the Core i7-4771 (3.5GHz base clock, turbo up to 3.9GHz). The upgrade is quite welcome and brings the iMac family CPUs into the present generation. However, as in the recently updated MacBook Airs, Haswell isn't likely to drive performance to much greater heights than the prior generation's similarly clocked Ivy Bridge processors.

What could drive some performance increase in the high end is an optional PCIe-based SSD. While last year's SSDs were no slouches, the move to PCIe for flash storage opens up room for more performance. Apple claims up to a 50% performance improvement in storage speeds over both Fusion and all-flash options.

On the graphics side, the top spec gets a decent upgrade, with the Nvidia GTX 780M offering higher clock speeds and more RAM over its predecessor, the GTX 680MX. On the low end, we see Intel's own Iris Pro integrated graphics take the place of Nvidia's GT 640M, a good indicator that Intel's graphics efforts are making inroads on lower specced machines. It may be some time before we see an Intel GPU driving the 2560×1440 panel of the 27-inch model, but for the 1920×1080 21.5-inch model, it should be plenty. Other improvements include the addition of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which is certainly a boon for those of you sporting a capable router, and is in line with the updates to the rest of the Mac lineup.

No cosmetic changes are in store, although you can also continue to order the thin iMacs with an integrated VESA mount. Aside from that, the refresh shifts options pricing a bit—for instance, it brings the price of the 1TB SSD option to $1,000 from the prior 768GB for $1,300. These models are available now online or at your nearest Apple Store.

109 Reader Comments

I've been waiting for the Haswell refresh for a while. The lack of a Retina display is disappointing but expected. I already pulled the trigger on a 27" i7 with 16 GB of RAM, a 3 GB Fusion Drive and the high-end graphics option.

I would've ordered 32 GB of RAM but the price got crazy quickly. Apple will sell you 2x8GB sticks for (.edu pricing) $180, or 4x8GB sticks for $540. I'll just upgrade the RAM later, hopefully to 4x16 GB sticks if they are supported.

It looks like a sweet machine, so I'm very much looking forward to getting it.

I've got to wonder why Apple, which can ship a 128GB SSD standard in a $999 laptop, can't manage to do the same in a $1,299-$1,999 desktop. I'd love to see standard Fusion drives at these prices.

The only good thing going for the Air is the 128GB SSD, the rest of the specs are pitiful in comparison to an iMac which is where your cost difference is coming from.

I'd love to see the Air's have 8gigs of ram standard, (instead of a $150 upgrade), especially since OS X is quite greedy with ram usage. The $200 upgrade for Fusion isn't that terrible considering the cost of RAM vs the cost of SSD drives.

Any idea if you will receive an upgrade to Mavericks when it is released if you buy one of these today?

The fact that they did not specify that the Mavericks upgrade would be free in their typical fashion for this sort of timing lends credence to the speculation it may be a free upgrade across the board.

I've got to wonder why Apple, which can ship a 128GB SSD standard in a $999 laptop, can't manage to do the same in a $1,299-$1,999 desktop. I'd love to see standard Fusion drives at these prices.

The only good thing going for the Air is the 128GB SSD, the rest of the specs are pitiful in comparison to an iMac which is where your cost difference is coming from.

I'd love to see the Air's have 8gigs of ram standard, (instead of a $150 upgrade), especially since OS X is quite greedy with ram usage. The $200 upgrade for Fusion isn't that terrible considering the cost of RAM vs the cost of SSD drives.

I have a 2011 air and I have yet to max thing out on CPU. It's buttery smooth, does everything I need it too (and I am a power user). It's the perfect laptop for me. I don't get these ultrabooks coming out with i7's. Its wasted. Use that power in a desktop.

I'd love to get my hands on a haswell macbook air though, that plus Mavericks and I could go all day without plugging in.

Any idea if you will receive an upgrade to Mavericks when it is released if you buy one of these today?

The fact that they did not specify that the Mavericks upgrade would be free in their typical fashion for this sort of timing lends credence to the speculation it may be a free upgrade across the board.

Any idea if you will receive an upgrade to Mavericks when it is released if you buy one of these today?

The fact that they did not specify that the Mavericks upgrade would be free in their typical fashion for this sort of timing lends credence to the speculation it may be a free upgrade across the board.

Any idea if you will receive an upgrade to Mavericks when it is released if you buy one of these today?

Usually Apple will give a free upgrade to anyone who purchased the previous generation (Mountain Lion in this case) of Mac OS X or bought a new Mac within 30 days of the new OS X being released. With speculation widely believing that Mavericks will be released in October, there's a better than even chance that anyone buying a new iMac will get a free copy of Mavericks.

I've got to wonder why Apple, which can ship a 128GB SSD standard in a $999 laptop, can't manage to do the same in a $1,299-$1,999 desktop. I'd love to see standard Fusion drives at these prices.

The only good thing going for the Air is the 128GB SSD, the rest of the specs are pitiful in comparison to an iMac which is where your cost difference is coming from.

I'd love to see the Air's have 8gigs of ram standard, (instead of a $150 upgrade), especially since OS X is quite greedy with ram usage. The $200 upgrade for Fusion isn't that terrible considering the cost of RAM vs the cost of SSD drives.

I have a 2011 air and I have yet to max thing out on CPU. It's buttery smooth, does everything I need it too (and I am a power user). It's the perfect laptop for me. I don't get these ultrabooks coming out with i7's. Its wasted. Use that power in a desktop.

I'd love to get my hands on a haswell macbook air though, that plus Mavericks and I could go all day without plugging in.

Xcode regularly destroys both ram and cpu usage on my 2012 macbook pro. Photoshop when I need it is also no slouch on stressing the machine. And the Parallels to run Windows so I can use the super stupid enterprise websites at work doesn't help either. Although this a work machine, so if they dont give me a machine that allows coffee breaks while I wait for things to chug, its not my problem).

Besides, its not CPU power thats necessarily a problem, its RAM. I sit at 4 GB with just Xcode up and a browser.

We may also have different definitions of power user, because I would normally consider myself a power user, but as a developer I crush my macbook pros. Although, everyone in office on a mac complains about the large amount of junk we need to run to "work" because its too much for the standard 15inch Macbook Pro (non-retina) that they bought us.

Looks like a worthy upgrade had I note upgraded to the late-2012 iMac and MacBook Pro. For me I'm really holding out for DDR4 to become standard and there to be a USB refresh even if it is just to 3.1 I'd be a happy camper but then again I wouldn't be surprised if by that stage there is USB4 or something like USB3.x of some variation.

As for people wanting Retina - once you get to a certain size screen and you're x number of distance from your screen the benefits of Retina quickly die. Personally I'd sooner see more important things like battery life, performance, OpenGL 4.4 support being delivered than indulging those who seem to have an addiction to the latest buzz word.

These things are one of the dumbest Apple products. You get a desktop with none of the key benefits: cheap/upgradable/repairable/reconfigurable

A MacBook with an external monitor makes more sense.

*Sigh* my fiance wants one :-(

When I was a teenager, I'd have said the same thing. Now that I'm older, and have a child, I personally just don't have the time to think about looking at upgrades for components. I haven't opened up a PC in nearly 10 years to replace a part or upgrade it, so its no longer part of my purchasing decision. (And yes I realize I could make the time, but spending time with child > spending time researching component upgrades)

For myself, the key benefit of my desktop over my laptop: performance, screen size and more storage. (And its easier to keep the wires tucked away from the toddler roaming around, but minor problem). I'm sure others feel the same way, and I'm sure others buy iMacs and other all in ones for convience/the pretty.

Any idea if you will receive an upgrade to Mavericks when it is released if you buy one of these today?

Usually Apple will give a free upgrade to anyone who purchased the previous generation (Mountain Lion in this case) of Mac OS X or bought a new Mac within 30 days of the new OS X being released. With speculation widely believing that Mavericks will be released in October, there's a better than even chance that anyone buying a new iMac will get a free copy of Mavericks.

Very true, and I hope to get a free copy of Mavericks. But TBH, given recent trends in Apple OS X pricing, I'm not too concerned if I have to pay $20 to upgrade.

I never understood developers who use Mac instead of Linux. Apple doesn't even cater to us and we (ok, most developers) are competent enough to not need the hand holding and make use of power features like shell scripting.

I guess we all have our comfort zones, I just don't understand it.

I'm not a hater either (well, maybe slightly), I recommended a MBA to my eldest sister since she's not techy and she wanted something light weight. While my other sis is a graphic artist, so I fully expect her to go Mac especially for the monitors.

You are quite absolute in your "never" statement… Is there really nothing that I, an iMac-wielding developer could say to make you understand?

Probably a mixture of cost & manufacturing limitations. I suspect making 300ppi 27" retina displays is extremely difficult and cost prohibitive currently. I wonder if any of the panel manufacturers could even produce a 300ppi panel at 27" outside of a lab currently.

4k monitors obviously exist, but are still very expensive. A 27" iMac with a 4k screen sounds great, but if starting price was even only $2799 it would be a tough sell.

I've got to wonder why Apple, which can ship a 128GB SSD standard in a $999 laptop, can't manage to do the same in a $1,299-$1,999 desktop. I'd love to see standard Fusion drives at these prices.

The only good thing going for the Air is the 128GB SSD, the rest of the specs are pitiful in comparison to an iMac which is where your cost difference is coming from.

I'd love to see the Air's have 8gigs of ram standard, (instead of a $150 upgrade), especially since OS X is quite greedy with ram usage. The $200 upgrade for Fusion isn't that terrible considering the cost of RAM vs the cost of SSD drives.

I have a 2011 air and I have yet to max thing out on CPU. It's buttery smooth, does everything I need it too (and I am a power user). It's the perfect laptop for me. I don't get these ultrabooks coming out with i7's. Its wasted. Use that power in a desktop.

I'd love to get my hands on a haswell macbook air though, that plus Mavericks and I could go all day without plugging in.

Xcode regularly destroys both ram and cpu usage on my 2012 macbook pro. Photoshop when I need it is also no slouch on stressing the machine. And the Parallels to run Windows so I can use the super stupid enterprise websites at work doesn't help either. Although this a work machine, so if they dont give me a machine that allows coffee breaks while I wait for things to chug, its not my problem).

Besides, its not CPU power thats necessarily a problem, its RAM. I sit at 4 GB with just Xcode up and a browser.

We may also have different definitions of power user, because I would normally consider myself a power user, but as a developer I crush my macbook pros. Although, everyone in office on a mac complains about the large amount of junk we need to run to "work" because its too much for the standard 15inch Macbook Pro (non-retina) that they bought us.

Fair point but you're confusing an ultrabook with a workstation. You're not supposed to be doing that type of work on an ultra portable. That is workstation class work you're doing. Even a "pro" model laptop isn't meant for that. Get a Mac Pro for it. It's not the fault of the ultrabook that it can't compare to a 32 GB monster of a desktop. Put simply, "You're doing it wrong"

Any idea if you will receive an upgrade to Mavericks when it is released if you buy one of these today?

The fact that they did not specify that the Mavericks upgrade would be free in their typical fashion for this sort of timing lends credence to the speculation it may be a free upgrade across the board.

God I hope you're right but I really doubt it.

yeah, thats some wishful thinking.

But not without precedent ... System 1 - System 6 used to be free and iOS is free.

As a penny pincher the difference between $20 and free doesn't mean much to me with something as major as a new OS ... but Apple does like to take things to their absolute concept. And in this case it would be to make all the non-pro apps free in order boost sales of their hardware, which would stand in opposition to Microsoft's expensive software running on lower-cost hardware.

I never understood developers who use Mac instead of Linux. Apple doesn't even cater to us and we (ok, most developers) are competent enough to not need the hand holding and make use of power features like shell scripting.

I guess we all have our comfort zones, I just don't understand it.

Funny enough, I never understood why people recommend Linux as a system for developers. Are there any development related tools or features in Linux that I'm missing out on by using OS X?

I never understood developers who use Mac instead of Linux. Apple doesn't even cater to us and we (ok, most developers) are competent enough to not need the hand holding and make use of power features like shell scripting.

I guess we all have our comfort zones, I just don't understand it.

Funny enough, I never understood why people recommend Linux as a system for developers. Are there any development related tools or features in Linux that I'm missing out on by using OS X?

Not really, especially since all the Linux dev tools are ported to OSX also. I probably shouldn't say "all" but the vast majority have been. Plus OSX has a better compiler (clang vs GCC) although you can get clang on Linux too.

I never understood developers who use Mac instead of Linux. Apple doesn't even cater to us and we (ok, most developers) are competent enough to not need the hand holding and make use of power features like shell scripting.

I guess we all have our comfort zones, I just don't understand it.

Funny enough, I never understood why people recommend Linux as a system for developers. Are there any development related tools or features in Linux that I'm missing out on by using OS X?

Depends on whether you need support for a more recent OpenGL version I guess, though Mavericks is going to finally bring OpenGL 4 support to OSX.

Xcode regularly destroys both ram and cpu usage on my 2012 macbook pro. Photoshop when I need it is also no slouch on stressing the machine. And the Parallels to run Windows so I can use the super stupid enterprise websites at work doesn't help either. Although this a work machine, so if they dont give me a machine that allows coffee breaks while I wait for things to chug, its not my problem).

Besides, its not CPU power thats necessarily a problem, its RAM. I sit at 4 GB with just Xcode up and a browser.

We may also have different definitions of power user, because I would normally consider myself a power user, but as a developer I crush my macbook pros. Although, everyone in office on a mac complains about the large amount of junk we need to run to "work" because its too much for the standard 15inch Macbook Pro (non-retina) that they bought us.

I never understood developers who use Mac instead of Linux. Apple doesn't even cater to us and we (ok, most developers) are competent enough to not need the hand holding and make use of power features like shell scripting.

I guess we all have our comfort zones, I just don't understand it.

I'm not a hater either (well, maybe slightly), I recommended a MBA to my eldest sister since she's not techy and she wanted something light weight. While my other sis is a graphic artist, so I fully expect her to go Mac especially for the monitors.

Can you tell that to IT so I can get a better machine or at least more RAM?.

No but you're welcome to talk to your own IT department and explain to them why you're using the wrong tool for the job.

I'm not trying to sound combative but you're pushing a square peg through a round hole and blaming the square peg.

When I did, they tell me that Apple calls its a professional tool and to have a good day. The company outside of its very small mobile department (20 of us out of 5000 employees) are all Windows users.

Our day to day would be 100% better if we didn't need Parallels and Windows running all the time. My personal Macbook Pro handles Xcode and Photoshop fine when I'm doing my own iOS development (although does have 16GB of ram instead of 8GB of ram)

And I don't feel your being combative, the reality I'm dealing with, is different then your reality and each machine is going to either meet, exceed or fall short of expectations due to that. Apple does make good machines, although I do think they are a tad pricier then I would like them to be for some of the specs.

Although, I'm also in a "meeting" on the Windows end, which trumps running xcode right now and giving me plenty of time to sit and post of this thread

I thought I would too, and even bought an external one when I upgraded to the now previous generation iMac. But I've used it exactly twice now. Once to, of all things, install Windows 8, and once to burn a DVD of a video I edited. I could have also just stuck it on a thumb drive, but I was giving it to someone else, and not expecting it back.